Process for permanently producing picture or like effects upon enameled metal surfaces



UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

ROBERT SAN'DBY, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

PR OCESS FOR PERMANENTLY PRODUCING PICTURE R LIKE EFFECTS UPON ENAMELED METAL SURFACES.

llo Drawing.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, ROBERT 'SANDBY, citizen (if the United States, residing at Chicago, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, have discovered a certain new and esses in which photographs, pictures, ornamental or printing effects are permanently produced upon sulta'ble surfaces and fixed by a firing rocess. It has for its object a process for t e purpose named which may be easily followed by those skilled in the art and in which the effects are very pleasing and lasting, and may be produced in a reasonably economical manner. 7

To this end my invention consists in the novel process herein described and claimed, and more particularly pointed out in the claims.

In practisin my process, which is particularly designed such effects upon a metal base, such-as sheet or cast metal, I first take a plate or article of sheet or cast metal which has been enameled in any of the usual and well known manners, producing a preferably white or other plain effect.

The means and processes by which this is accomplished are so many and at the present time so well known to those skilled in the art that it will not be necessary to go into detail.

With such an enameled sheet or cast metal object, I first carefully clean the, enameled surface in any of the preferred manners, and after thoroughly cleaning and drying the same I lay thereon a thin, uniform coat of copal or other gum varnish, and allow the same to rest a limited time in order that it may partially set. U on this varnished surface I then transfer t e picture or other matter in the following manner. The print, picture or other matter is printed upon what is termed transfer paper with ordinary printers ink. This is then carefully dusted with a mixture of metal oxids and silica. The dusted picture is then carefully placed over the varnished surface and the paper carrying the same is pressed or rubbed carefully so that the dusted figure will be firmly pressed into the varnish. After a llmlted Specification of Letters Patent.

factory results consists for .permanently producing Patented Apr. 6, i920.

Application filed September 5, 1918. Serial No. 252,800.

- time allowing the varnish to further set and a fix the imprinted matter thoroughly therein. the paper is carefull removed by the use of water which is pre erablylukewarm until the paper softens, when it may be carefully pulled off. I then allow this surface to dry. After this is done, I dust the surface with a suitable flux that will fuse at -a -low temperature, and fire the article in a suitable furnace in the usual manner.

In carrying out my process I'have secured satisfactory resultsrby using copal, kauri or other gum varnish upon the thoroughly cleaned enameled surface and allowing the same to rest substantially five to ten minutes in order that the varnish may slightly harden or set.

The metallic oXid I have used with satisof lead oxid, bismuth oXid and silica. A considerable variation, however, is permitted as Ivhave secured satisfactory results with a mixture substantially as follows :-Silica, 10% parts; lead oxid, 63% parts; bismuth oxid, 3 parts; copper oxid, 7% parts; cobalt oxid, 8 parts; manganese oxid, 6 parts. I have used these be cause I have-found them upon the market in convenient form in an article sold as Brunswick black.

With'such a mixture the transfer would be black and white. The picture may 'be colored'as desired by using any one of the metallic colors laid on carefully with a brush. v

The flux I prefer to use consists of silica, lead oxid, bismuth oxid and sodium carbonate. This flux is conveniently found upon the market and varies as to the degree of temperature necessary to bring about the fusing. I have secured very good results with a flux composed substantially of twelve parts silica, fifty-four parts lead oxid, twenty parts bismuth oxid and thirteen parts sodium carbonate. I have, however, secured very satisfactory results without the use of a flux, the metallic oxid held by, the printers ink on the picture being sufficient to secure the results desired.

The degree of heat required for firing, of course depends upon the quality of the flux. I have secured satisfactory results at a temperature of from nine to twelve hundred degrees Fahrenheit.

It is obvious that after having thus described my process, a considerable degree of variation is possible and will occur to those who are skilled in the art to secure a similar result. Hence I do not wish to be understood as limiting myself to the exact proportions and quantities mentioned nor to the exact .materials employed, as the usual equivalents for similar purposes will occur to those who have had experience and are familiar with the art.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is l. The herein described process of producing picture or like effects upon an enameled surface consisting in first cleaning the enameled surface, then laying thereon auniform coat of a suitable gum varnish and allowing the same to partially set, then transferring the picture thereto, by first printing the matter to be transferred on transfer paper with printers ink, dusting the same evenly with a metallic oxid mixed with silica and pressing the same evenly upon the varnished surface, allowing the same to set and carefully removing the paper, and after allowing the surface to dry dusting the same with a flux that will fuse at a comparatively low temperature and firing the same, substantially as described.

2. The herein described process of producing picture or like effects upon an enameled surface consisting in first cleaning the enameled surface, then laying thereon a uniform coat of a suitable gum varnish and allowing the same to partially set, then transferring the picture thereto, by first printing the matter to be transferred on transfer paper with prin'ters ink, dusting the same evenly with a metallic oxid mixed with silica and pressing the same evenly upon the varnished. surface, allowing the same to set and carefully removing the aper, and after allowing the surface to dry dusting the same with a flux and firing the same, substantially as described.

3. The herein described process of producing pictures or like effects upon an enameled surface consisting in first cleaning the enameled surface, then laying thereon a uniform coat of a suitable gum varnish and allowing the same to partially set, then transferring the picture thereto by first printing the matter to be transferred on transfer paper with printers ink, dusting the same evenly with metallic oxld mixed with silica and pressing the same evenly upon the varnished surface, allowing the same to set and carefully removing the paper, and then firing the same at a comparatively low temperature, substantially as described. 1

In testimony whereof I have hereunto signed my name in the presence of two subscribing witnesses. I

ROBERT SANDBY. Witnesses J OI-IN W. HILL, CHARLES I. COBB. 

